A Man Among Teachers

            ”I never had any plan of being here teaching more than six months. Then I realized, I like teaching and then I realized that I had bills to pay and this was a job. Now, this is home. Ten years later I’m here and I like it here and I like the pace of life here.”

            --Tim Cooper

            Tim Cooper doesn’t look much different than what you might expect a high school teacher to look like: a button up decorated with a tie, dress pants and, on occasion, a pair of glasses. What sets him apart certainly isn’t his appearance it’s his demeanor. He has a calm aura about him that seems to draw you in. It has a lot to do with his faith in God and the way he chooses to express that faith, but it also has to do with the fact that he is genuine, kind, and loves what he does.
           
            Cooper is a high school social studies/history teacher at Whitley County High School and these characteristics shine through his teaching style as well. He teaches with a passion that is clear to see. Aside from teaching, he also does a lot of work within his church  as a music and worship leader.

            Cooper was born in the Philippines while his parents were serving there as missionaries. Six months later when his family returned to the United States they settled down in the little town of Camdenton, Mo. where his family started a church in their home. He attended William Jewell College where he received a political science and history degree. Cooper then moved to Williamsburg, Ky. for his current teaching job at Whitley County High School. While in his first years there he also attended graduate school at Union College and more recently obtained his masters from University of the Cumberlands.

            Students know that he is there for them, not just as a teacher but as a person. Former student Tiffany Philpot said, “I enjoyed having him as a teacher. He was very caring andconsiderate towards students. He would always help the students better understand the material ifthey needed it. He was always open to questions and discussion.”

            Cooper has a heart for his students and generally cares for them as individuals. He has a desire to help prepare them better as students and as people. Cooper said, “I try to take time to make students think about beliefs, whether or not they agree with me. I just want to plant a seed that there is something other than what we see. It’s just to say, you need to struggle with these things. A teacher is supposed to make you ask questions. I think that’s a part of the role as a teacher.”

Dustin Lawson, another former student, said, “Tim Cooper is a person that really cares about the education of his students and is very hands-on. He takes great care in teaching and developing his students.”

            Cooper’s care and consideration also extends to his church family. If he isn’t in the classroom then most of his time is taken up with church or church activities. He and his wife both works actively in the church and routinely host prayer meetings and worship services in their home. His home church, Cornerstone Community Church, describes his focus on their website as follows: “His passion is to work with young men, working intensively on building spiritual relationships, focused on discipleship, accountability, and intentional dialogue on how faith intersects and directs all areas of life.”

            Tim Cooper doesn’t look much different than what you might expect a high school teacher to look like, but he is everything you hope for a teacher to be.